Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-05-02
The Telegraphic Signal.

for long time in the company's en-
plov. When the new engine "59"
was completed and placed on the
road. John was given charge of it,
and he evinced a natural pride in his
preferment. At one of the stations
there was a young girl, telegraph
operator, between whom and the en-
gineer there had sprung up warm
attachment, and whenever "59'' came
along, Kate generally managed to be
at the door and exchange signals with
her lover. One day the train detain-
ed at the station, and the locomotive
detached and sent mp the road to do
some additional work and Kate went
along for a ride. AS she listened to
the sharp, shrill notes of the whistle,
it occurred to her that she might
teach John to sound her name in the
Morse telegraphic characters, so that
she could distinguish his signal from
that of the other engines, whenever
his train approached. The plan work
ed to a chram, and far and near the
whistle shrieked Kate, until one
day, as the operator stepped upon the
platform, she overheard a conversa-
ton between two young men, and
learned that they understood the sig
nal and were laughingly wondering
who Kate could be. Their means of
communication having been discover
ed, they were obliged to discontinue
it. In the meantime, Kate had by
means of the telegraph, made the ac-
quaintance of young lady, in a dis
tant city, but whom she had never
seen, and to her she made known the
fact that the secret had been discov-
cred. Then her friend suggested a
plan as brilliant as it was ingenious.
1t was simply to arrange a means of
telegraphic communication between
the approaching train and the station,
so as to ring a bell hidden away in a
closet in Kate's office, engine "59"
being the only one provided with
means of completing the circuit,
which was done by laying the poker
upon the tender brake so as to touch
the wire in passing. Kate found an
opportunity to acquaint John with
the proposed plan, and in the mean
time had found an abandoned wire
which ran for long distance close
by the track, and which she proposed
to nse for carrying out her purpose.
Thanksgiving day came soon after,
and John fortunately having holi-
day, he and Kate went bravely to
work, and before the day had ended
the task was complete success. The
dramatic finale of their low episode is
told in the following:
1t was singular how absent-minded
and inattentive the operator was on
the day that the great scientific en-
terprise was finished. No wonder
she was disturbed. Would the new
line work? Would her little battery
be strong enough for such a great
circuit? Would John be able to close
it? The people began to assemble
for the train. The clock pointed to
the hour for its arrival.
Suddenly, with startling distinct
ness, the bell rang clear and loud in
the echoing room, and with cry of
delight she put ON her dainty hat and
ran in haste, out upon the platform.
The whistle broke loud and clear on
the cool, crisp air, and 'E59'' appear
ed round the curve in the woods. The
splendid monster slid swiftly up to
her feet and paused.
"Perfect, John Perfect 1t works
to a charm"
With spring she reached the cab
and sat down on the fireman's seat.
"Blessed if / could tell what he
was going to do,'' said the fireman.
He told me about it. Awful bright
dea You see, he laid the poker on
5he tender brake there, and it hit the
rec slam, and l saw the wires touch.
It was just prime p
But the happy moments sped, and
'59" groaned and slowly departed,
While Kate stood on the platform, her
ACE wreathed in smiles and white
steam.
So the lovers met each day, and
none knew how she was made aware.I
IF his approach with such absolute
Science applied to love,
or rather love applied to science, can
move the world.
Two weeks passed, and then there |
suddenly arrived at the station late
one evening, special with the di-
'ectors' car attached. The honorable |
directors were hungry-they always
would pause on their jour
ley and take cup of tea and a bit |
If supper. The honorables and |
heir wives and children filled the
station, and the place put on quite
gala aspect. As for Kate, she de- I
nurely sat in her den, book in hand, /
md over its unread pages admired /
he gay party in the brightly lighted /
yaiting-room.
Suddenly, with furious rattle. her
electric bell sprang into noisy life.
Every spark of color left her face.
md her book fell with dusty slam
% the floor. What was it2 What
lid it mean: Who ran it! With af-
riohfanad face she hurst from ho.